The city of Detroit hosted the NFL Draft for the first time this year and it proved to be hugely successful for the home city of the Lions, and its businesses.
Not only did Detroit break the all-time attendance record for the NFL Draft, the event pulled in a ton of money for the city. According to Visit Detroit and the Detroit Sports Commission, the NFL Draft generated $213.6 million for Detroit.
The NFL also dished out $12.1 million on local, minority-owned businesses, which led to many of them becoming certified to secure contracts for future major events.
“Visit Detroit and the Detroit Sports Commission are thrilled to announce that the record-setting 775,000 people who attended the 2024 NFL Draft generated more than $213 million in total spending for Detroit and Southeast Michigan,” Claude Molinari, the President and CEO of Visit Detroit and Co-Chair of the Detroit Local Organizing Committee for the NFL Draft said. “That spending went into the pockets of Detroit businesses and will help strengthen our community for years to come. I am also proud that more than 50 million people watched Detroit shine on national television, which will be critical for Michigan’s long-term population and economic growth.”
It's safe to say that other cities around the country are seeing this and salivating at the idea of bringing the NFL Draft to their turf. The next two drafts will be held in Green Bay, Wisconsin (2025) and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (2026). The 2027 site has yet to be determined.
